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A tight footprint on the ridge
Positioned on a ridge within a tightly constrained HOA footprint, Soaring Eagle required careful coordination between layout efficiency, structural strategy, and long-term construction feasibility from the earliest stages of design development. The project demanded a disciplined approach to ensure architectural ambition remained aligned with constructability, site realities, and overall project cost as the design evolved.
In the room early
Fernhill remained closely involved throughout design development, helping guide the project through the lens of constructability, sequencing, and budget awareness before key decisions became difficult to unwind. By contributing early and consistently alongside the design team, the project has been able to evolve in a way that protects both the architectural vision and the practical realities of building a custom home on a complex ridge-top site.
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What is pre-construction?
Pre-construction is the work before a construction contract: pricing the design while it can still change, writing our assumptions next to each line, and reviewing constructability. You get a line-item cost model before you commit to building.
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What does a custom home cost in Boulder?
Costs vary with site conditions, design complexity, and finish level. Projects typically begin around $700 per square foot, with highly design-driven homes often exceeding $1,000 per square foot.
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Cost-plus vs fixed-price construction
A fixed price on an unfinished design is a guess with a margin on top. We work cost-plus with an open book: you see actual costs and our fee, and the monthly cost report we see is the one you see, unedited.
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How does Fernhill work with architects?
We join the team early, price the design as it develops, and flag constructability issues while they are still drawing-table decisions. The architect keeps design authority; we keep the budget honest.
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Why involve a builder early in design?
Most of a project’s cost is decided before the drawings are finished. With a builder in the room early, the budget can shape the design instead of surprising it after permits.
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Projects
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